General Dynamics NASSCO will start construction of the new tankers at its San Diego shipyard by the end of 2014, for delivery within three years. The vessels are designed by a South Korean group, DSEC.

General Dynamics Wins Order to Build Two Tankers

General Dynamics’ wholly owned NASSCO subsidiary will design and build two tankers for Seabulk Tankers Inc., with construction to start late next year on the first vessel, and deliveries set for mid 2016 and early 2017. The value of the contract was not announced.

Seabulk Tankers, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seacor Holdings Inc. These tankers represent the fourth commercial collaboration between NASSCO and DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering – the South Korean group that is designing the vessels.

Each 50,000-deadweight ton tanker will have a cargo capacity of 330,000 barrels. Both tankers will be built at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, to designs by DSEC, and the construction and operation of the vessels will match Jones Act regulations (which require ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in U.S. shipyards.)

Both ships will be LNG-conversion-ready, which General Dynamics indicated is one aspect of the fuel-efficient design. The ships will have dual-fuel-capable auxiliary engines, and ready to accommodate future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system and Type C LNG tanks.

Other fuel-saving details include a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form.

These 610-foot-long tankers continue the ECO tanker design that not only offers better fuel efficiency, but also incorporate environmental protection features like a ballast water treatment system.

The two ships in the Seabulk order mean that NASSCO is under contract to design and build six ECO MR tankers. In May, NASSCO was contracted by American Petroleum Tankers to build four vessels of the same design.

“This contract is an indication that NASSCO remains fully committed to continuing to bring the most economical and environmentally sound technology to Jones Act owners and operators,” according to Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. “We are very pleased to begin a new partnership with Seacor and look forward to delivering two high-quality vessels that will serve Seacor in the Jones Act tanker market for decades.”